Penal Code (2013) penalises women and girls over the age of nine who do not comply with the
Islamic dress code in public, notably with wearing the compulsory hijab.6
However, the Iranian legal framework is not clear as to the age of majority. While criminal
responsibility is set at 9 lunar years for girls and 15 lunar years for boys, the Civil Code7
stipulates that the legal age of marriage for girls is 13, although marriages at a younger age are
allowed, granted that the legal guardian and the court’s approval have been obtained. The
minimum age to be able to open a bank account8 or get a driver’s license9 is set at 18.
There are a number of mechanisms which Iranian citizens can use to report violations of their
rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, including the Parliament’s Article 90 Commission10 or the
Oversight Bodies for the exercise of Citizenship Rights in the country's provincial courts.11
However, and as aforementioned, gender discrimination is inherent in the criminal justice system
in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Consequently, there is little opportunity for one’s complaint in
that matter to be adequately addressed and properly adjudicated in compliance with international
standards. There is no independent National Human Rights Institution competent to receive
complaints from children, including girls, in the Islamic Republic of Iran. With regards to illegal
acts of violence against women under Iranian law, there is no readily available information that
might suggest that complaints are adequately addressed, investigated and adjudicated.
Recommendation Status:
This recommendation has NOT been implemented.
6
Islamic Penal Code, 2013, Article 638, Iran Human Rights Documentation Center, https://iranhrdc.org/islamic-penal-code-ofthe-islamic-republic-of-iran-book-five/
7
http://www.davoudabadi.ir/article/1234/
8
http://banki.ir/akhbar/1-news/1962-hesab
9
https://www.tabnak.ir/fa/news/746472/
10
The Article 90 Commission was established to receive the citizens' complaints against government institutions and has the
responsibility to review them and transmit cases for judicial procedure accordingly.
11
These committees have the responsibility to oversee the strict implementation of the "Law on Respect for Legitimate Freedoms
and Civil Rights”
2